Chapter 443 Penelope's Embrace
"Hey, why don't you just dive into my lifestyle? It'd totally complete your life," Cassius said, flashing a sleazy grin.
"No way, man. I'm not looking to catch an STD," Dashiell shot back.
"Dude, you haven't even given it a shot. Play it safe, and you won't catch anything. Plus, the chicks I hooked up with were clean. You really think I'd just sleep with anyone?" Cassius countered.
Cassius could read Dashiell's thoughts just by looking at him.
Rolling his eyes, he said, "Man, you really don't know how to have fun. Fine, let's just drink."
And with that, they started pounding drinks again.
Dinner was just the warm-up.
By 7 PM, Cassius dragged Dashiell to a private room at a nightclub.
Once they hit the club, they went even harder on the booze.
By 9 PM, Dashiell was done.
"I'm wasted. I can't drink anymore," he told Cassius.
"Already? Seriously?" Cassius was clearly disappointed.
"You know my limit," Dashiell said.
Cassius sighed, "You know how hard it was for me to get time off from my dad to hang out with you. If you bail now, I'll get dragged back home. My current life is driving me nuts."
Dashiell could totally get how a free spirit like Cassius felt trapped.
But tonight, he was really at his limit.
He didn't want to get blackout drunk and do something stupid, like last time when he almost kissed Seraphina.
He wasn't the type to lose control.
"I really gotta go," Dashiell said firmly.
Cassius wasn't one to push too hard.
And Dashiell's face was looking unusually red.
"Alright, next time then," Cassius relented.
"I'm worried you might not get another chance," Dashiell said.
"Don't sweat it. As long as you and Alaric invite me, I'll find a way. I've got my dad's patterns figured out," Cassius said.
Hugo was a sly old fox.
Neither he nor Alaric dared to mess with Hugo lightly.
Even though Hugo treated them with respect, if they stepped out of line, he'd make their lives hell with his tricks.
Just thinking about it gave them chills.
"I'll take you home," Cassius said reluctantly.
"No need," Dashiell refused. "You stay and have fun. Hugo won't know I left early."
Cassius thought it over and agreed. He'd already ditched Hugo's spies.
"Alright, I'm out," Dashiell said, not wasting any more words.
He grabbed his cane and headed out.
His head was still spinning a bit.
But he figured he could make it out of the club.
He walked with some difficulty.
Just as he crossed the chaotic hall, someone bumped into him.
Dashiell lost his balance and was about to fall backward.
A figure suddenly caught him.
Dashiell turned to say "thanks" but froze.
It was Penelope, holding him tightly.
"You okay?" Penelope asked.
Dashiell nodded.
He hadn't expected to run into Penelope here.
Of course, it wasn't a coincidence.
Penelope had been having people tail Dashiell and Seraphina.
She was worried their divorce might hit a snag.
Today, she got word that Dashiell was having dinner with Cassius.
She didn't quite get their relationship, but she just wanted to bump into Dashiell.
After waiting most of the night, she finally had a chance to get close to him.
"Thanks," Dashiell said, shifting slightly to let her go first.
"I'll take you home," Penelope said quickly.
"No need," Dashiell refused.
"You've been drinking. You're unsteady. I'll take you home," Penelope insisted.
Without waiting for permission, she supported Dashiell and walked out.
Dashiell pressed his lips together, choosing to stay silent.
Sometimes, he felt he needed to give himself a chance.
Even though he knew it wouldn't work out, he wanted to try to change.
Penelope helped Dashiell into a car and got in with him.
Dashiell didn't speak.
Penelope also stayed quiet.
For her, just being with Dashiell made her heart race. She didn't need to say or do anything.
The car arrived, and Penelope helped Dashiell to his house.
From start to finish, Dashiell was cold but didn't refuse her help.
Did his lack of refusal mean she had a chance?
In the past, Dashiell would have avoided her at all costs.
Her heart raced as she walked into Dashiell's house and helped him to the living room sofa.
"Thanks," Dashiell said.
It was clearly a dismissal.
But Penelope didn't want to leave.
Because of Dashiell's slight tolerance, she wanted more.
She had been holding back her feelings for Dashiell for a long time.
She couldn't control herself anymore.
She said, "Dashiell, I know you and Seraphina are divorced."
Dashiell's eyes flickered.
Penelope continued, "Since you're done with her, can I be with you?"
Dashiell's throat moved slightly. He said, "No."
Penelope said, "I love you."
Dashiell said coldly, "But I don't love you."
"I don't need you to love me. Plus, you've never given me a chance to be with you. How do you know you won't fall in love with me? You and Seraphina only developed feelings because you lived together. You've never been with another woman. If you give me a chance to live with you, we could fall in love too," Penelope said.
"No," Dashiell said firmly, his words cutting deep.
He rejected her again and again, without hesitation.
"I won't give up, Dashiell. I will win you over!" Penelope said passionately, her eyes red.
Dashiell still looked cold.
But inside, he felt a slight twinge.
Not because he had feelings for Penelope, but because he remembered how he had been just as humble in front of Seraphina.
Penelope, usually so proud, was now so weak and pitiful in front of him.
In the end, he chose to remain cold.
He had been through it and didn't want Penelope to suffer the same fate.
Penelope was heartbroken by Dashiell's coldness and was about to leave.
But then she stopped suddenly.
She said, "Dashiell, just think of me as crazy, as shameless. I can only use the most primitive way to get even a glance from you."
With that, Dashiell saw Penelope start to remove her clothes, one piece at a time.
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